Children love flowers. I don’t know many who don’t. Teaching them about life and growing is very easy when you help them choose some simple yet beautiful flowers that are simple to grow.
Pansies are one of the simplest flowers to grow. They also spread with every season so you will enjoy these flowers for years to come. Pansies come in a wild verity of colors, from black, to red, to purples and blues, yellows and whites. So your child can pick their favorite color and plant. I like to mix and match our pansies. Putting purple with white, black with red and so on. But the color combinations are endless. As this plant tends to spread quickly and wildly, i like to plant this one in a flower bed rather then a pot. But it grows wonderfully in pots as well. Just be prepared for its babies to spring up around where you had the pot sitting. If you want to try and control the spread of the flower, pinch off the seed packet when it starts to grow and while its still green, Where every flower is, a seed packet will grow when the flower dies. Pansies are annuals, they will die after the frost, however they propagate themselves very well.
Daisies are simple and pretty. They can be grown in a verity of colors or the more common white. There are many different breeds in the Daisy family including Livingston daisies which are a ground growing plant, and African daisies, but both those breeds are a bit more sensitive. However the Shasta Daisy, the common perennial isn’t particular about their soil and water and will even grow in driveway gravel. They can be tall plants, reaching 2-3 feet at times, and enjoy lots of light. These also grow best in flower beds where they can dig their roots in deep and spread. Daises are perennials, they will come back.
Marigolds are another simple flower for children to grow. In fact when i was in elementary school part of science class was planting and growing a Marigold which we gave to our mothers for Mothers day. They come in white, yellow, orange red and a mixed verity. Marigolds can be planted in pots or in flower beds. They do have a rather unpleasant smell but are very favorable to gardeners as they keep insects away from the plants. Keeping the soil damp, and partial to full sunlight is all they need to grow. Marigolds are annuals, they will die out after the frost.
Snapdragons are a fun plant. They come in some wildly beautiful hues and can grow as tall as a foot per bloom. They are easy to grow in pots or in flower beds and are very hardy plants, they will take damage of high temperatures and frosts and continue to bloom if given a good soil and regular watering and fertilizing. Snapdragons are annuals, they die in the winter.
Sunflowers are a common sight. Easy to grow and fun for children they come in many varieties. I like to buy short ones for my toddler, reaching only 3 feet tall they are just his height. Some reach over 20 feet tall! Sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers for young children to plant on their own, the seeds are large. Sunflowers are especially fun because at the end of their season they ripen the seeds that you can eat! If you choose not to eat them, birds will enjoy them. Sunflowers can be started inside then transplanted outside when the seedlings are a few inches tall. This prevents animals from digging the seeds up and eating them. They enjoy lots of sunlight although they will tolerate some shade and like moist soil so regular waterings.
Daylillies will appeal to most girls. They have large blooms and lovely foliage. They come in a large range of colors as well. They grow practically everywhere, in poor soil and other growing conditions. They are a bulb plant, which can be planted in the ground or in pots. They are a bit testy in if you want them to come back the next year, you need to store the roots and bulbs in a cool dry area where they will not freeze. They bloom once a year, then the foliage tends to wilt away. Digging them up at that point for storage is ideal, or do it before the first frost.
There are many other lovely flowers that are easy to grow. Having your children pick out some of the favorite blooms and teaching them how to care for them is an easy way to start teaching responsibility at any age.
